Portable power plane



Oct. 4, 1955 w. R. BALLARD PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 22, 1951 William R Ballard JNVENTOR.

9 BY Wm Aflomejs Get. 4, 1955 w R BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE Filed May 22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 William R.Ballard INVENTOR.

BY all/Fun; 19%

Fig. 2

Oct. 4, 1955 w. R. BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1951 Fig. 8 I

William R. Ballard IN VEN TOR.

BY MM 3% Oct. 4, 1955 w, BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1951 /4a/ Fig. /2280 276 286 A 274 272 gm ID 492 Fig. /4

Wi/liam R. Ba/lara' IN VEN TOR.

BY Q /11% United States Patent Ofi ice 2,719,553 Patented Oct. 4, 1955PORTABLE POWER PLANE William R. Ballard, Kansas City, Mo., assignor ofonehalf to Lillie Ballard and one-half to Doris Jean Bailard, KansasCity, Mo.

Application May 22, 1951, Serial No. 227,710

6 Claims. (Cl. 145-4) This invention relates to an improved power tool.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable plane of improvedconstruction, the plane including a base with sides rising, therefrom,the sides supporting the pivotal connection for a motor support which islocated above the base plate, the motor support also constituting ameans of retaining a cutter holder, the cutter holder having a meansassociated therewith which is connected to the motor for operation andalso a means of pivotally adjusting the support whereby upon manualoperation of a convenient handle the holder and cutter support may beraised and lowered so as to project or retract a selected amount of thecutters located on the cutter holder through the cutter receivingopening in the base plate.

Ancillary objects and features of importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the illustrated forms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device in Figure 1 asviewed from above;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 44' of Figure 3and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 6-6of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

' Figure 7 is an elevational view of the improved handle and switch,portions being broken away in section to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 8 is a top view of a modified form of the invention, parts beingbroken away in section to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 9 is a top view of another modification with portions beingbroken away to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a' cutting tool and itsholder employed in the embodiment disclosed in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the invention in modified formand with thecasing broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 12- 12 of Fig- Inc 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe plane of section line 13-13 of Figure 11; and,

Figure 14 is a plan view of the invention in further modified form andshowing the casing broken away for the convenience of explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a portable planing tool19 which includes a base inthe form of a casing 12. This base includes abase plate 14 which is provided with a cutter receiving opening 16intermediate the front and rear ends thereof. Vertical sides 18 and 20respectively are fixed to and rise from side edges of the base plate 14.There is a front panel 22 having a wood chip passage 24, and a backpanel 26 having a handle 28 fastened thereto, the handle beingpreferably of a curved form as disclosed in Figure 3. A cover plate 30is fastened to the sides 18 and 20 by standard fastening means, as thescrews 32 so that the cover 38 may be removed for access to the interiorof the casing 12. In order to cooperate with the handle 28, there is ahand receiving knob 36 fastened by standard means to the cover 30 andlocated in proper spaced relationship with respect to the handle 28.

A support 38 is located between the sides 18 and 20 and above the baseplate 14. The support comprises a frame 40 of generally rectangular formand including side members 42 and 44 together with end members 46 and48, there being cross members 50 and 52 connected at their ends to theside members 42 and 44. The cross member 52 constitutes a mountingelement for the motor 54 this motor being held in place by means of astandard bracket 56 which is bolted or otherwise rigidly fastened to thecross member 52.

The rear end of the support 38 and, specifically, the frame 48 thereofis mounted for pivotal and swinging movement. Anti-friction bearings 58and 60, each located in the housing, are fastened by means of bracketsand. rivets or screws, to the sides 18 and 20 of the base. Arms 62 and64, each having a trunnion 65 and 66 extending therefrom are used tohold the frame 40 spaced from the base plate 14 and in such arrangementthat it is capable of swinging movement. The trunnions 65 and 66 arepassed through openings in the housings which support the anti-frictionbearings 58 and 60, whereby the outer ends of the trunnions are mountedfor rotation in the anti-friction bearings. The lower ends of the arms62 and 64 are fixed to the frame 40 in order to actually hold the oneend of the frame 40 in its proper position within the casing 12.

A horizontal shaft 70 is mounted in bearings 71 and 72, the bearingsbeing carried by the frame members 42 and 44 respectively. There is acutter holder 74 including the cutter blades 76, fastened to the shaft70 so that upon rotation of the shaft, the cutter holder 74 rotates. Thecutter holder 74 and shaft 70 are located above the opening 16 so thatif the support 38 is raised or lowered, the cutter holder 74 is soadjusted as to project the cutter blades 7 6 through the opening 16 aselected amount.

There is a means for obtaining such adjustment. This means is operablefrom the exterior of the casing 12 and includes a handle 78 disposed onthe end of a shaft 80, this shaft being mounted in bearings in the sides18 and 20 and extending transversely across and spaced vertically abovethe base plate 14. Beveled gears 82 and 84 are fixed to the shaft 88 andare enmeshed with beveled gears 86 and 88 which are fixed to the upperends of screws 89 and 90, the screws passing through openings in thebrackets 92 and 94 which are fixed to the sides 18 and 20. The bracketsact as thrust bearings preventing the screws from moving downwardlyinasmuch as the collars 95 and 96 which extend from the gears 88 and 86bear against the top surface thereof. The lower ends of the screws areconnected to assemblies associated with the sides 18 and 2t) and alsowith the frame 40 to cause the frame to be raised and lowered inresponse to rotation of the handle 76. Inasmuch as the two assembliesassociated. with the screws 89 and are identical, a discussion of thespecific structure of one will, of necessity, lead to a completeunderstanding of the structure of the other. In this regard, attentionis invited to Figure 6 where a fragmentary part of the side 18 isillustrated, this fragmentary part of the side having an opening 98therein accommodating the trunnion 100, this trunnion extending from therear surface of the base 102 of a guideway 104. This guideway includesL-shaped tracks 106 and 108 in which a T-shaped slide or slide block 110is located. The slide block has a threaded opening therein accommodatingthe screw 89 whereby upon rotation of the shaft 80, the screw beingoperated through the beveled gears 84 and 88 causes the slide 110 to beraised or lowered. Inasmuch as the slide is fastened by means of amounting bracket 112 to the front end of the support 38, the support maybe raised or lowered at the front end thereof causing the rear end toswing inasmuch as it is mounted by pivotal assemblies as detailed inFigure 5.

For each embodiment of the invention an identical handle 28 is used. Thehandle 28 has a trigger 114 adapted to fit in the hand of the user ofthe device, this trigger being pivoted by means of a pin 116 at itsupper end within a recess 118. The opposite end of the trigger has aspring 120 fastened thereto at one end, the other end being located in awell 122 formed in the handle 28. The function of the spring is tooppose the operation of the trigger 114 in one direction and to causeoperation in the other direction.

When the trigger 114 is pulled toward the outer part of the handle 28,as by squeezing the handle and trigger, the upper end of the handle isswung toward a fixed contact 126 which is located in the recess 118.Since the upper end of the handle 28 supports a pair of contacts 128which are arranged to touch and straddle the contact 126, a circuitincluding the motor 54 may be made and broken in accordance withactuation of the trigger 114. This is accomplished through the medium ofthe wiring 130 and 132, the former extending from a plug which isadapted to connect with a suitable source of current and the latterbeing connected to the motor 54.

There is a means drivingly connecting the motor 54 and the shaft 70,this means being seen best in Figure 2. A beveled gear is fastened tothe shaft 142 of the motor 54 and is meshed with a beveled gear 141located at the inner end of a lay shaft 144, the lay shaft beingsupported by bearings 146 and 148 carried by the support 38. Theopposite end of the lay shaft has a gear 150 secured thereto which isengaged with a gear 152, the latter gear being fixed to a shaft 154having a gear 156 at its opposite end. Suitable bearings 158 and 160which are carried by the support 38 mount the shaft 154 for rotation,and the gear 156 of the shaft 154 is engaged with a gear 166 which isfixed to the shaft 70. Therefore, when the motor 54 is energized byoperation of the trigger 114, the shafting and gears describedimmediately above cause rotation of the shaft 70. When it is desired toraise or lower the tool holder 74, it is necessary only to operate thehandle 78 which causes the front end of the support 38 to be elevated orlowered with respect to the base plate 14.

The embodiments of Figures 8-10 differ from the previously describedembodiment, particularly in the means of holding the cutters 1'76 andthe means of drivingly connecting the motor with the tool holders.Attention is first invited to Figures 8 and 10 where there isillustrated a base comprised of a casing 178, this casing having sides179 and 180 which are similar to the sides 18 and 20. A support 182 ismounted for adjustment similar to the support 38 and there is a motor184 carried by the support and which includes a motor shaft 186. Themotor shaft is provided with a sprocket 188 around which a chain 190extends, this chain also extending around a sprocket 192 which is fixedto a shaft 194. The shaft 194 extends transversely across the frame 182and it is mounted in bearings 196 and 198 which are carried by sidemembers of the support 182. There is a locking element 200 fixed to theshaft 194 and the locking element 200 is in the shape of the frustum ofa cone but is provided with a tongue 202 which rises from the wallthereof. The tongue is adapted to fit in a slot 206 which is formed inthe conical seat 208 provided at one end of the cylindrical tool holdingblock 210, this block raving a central passage through which the shaft194 extends. A second locking element 212, also in the shape of afrustum of a cone, is fitted on the shaft 194 and arranged to be locatedin the conical seat 214 formed on the opposite end of the tool holdingblock 210. A tongue 216 rises from the wall of the locking element 212and is arranged to be fitted in the slot 218 formed in the wall of theseat 214 when the locking element is located in the seat. There arepassages 220 formed longitudinally within the substantially cylindricaltool holding block 210 in order to accommodate screws 222 which arepassed through openings in the blades 176 in order to hold the bladeslocked in place, but yet hold them in such a way that they may bereleased for replacement, sharpening and the like. The precise operationof this form of the invention is the same as the modification disclosedin Figure 2 although different types of cutters 176 are accommodated.

Attention is now invited to Figure 9 where there is a casing 230 havinga frame 232 mounted in a manner similar to the frame 38 and capable ofthe same type of adjustment. The motor 234 of this embodiment isdisposed so that its shaft 236 extends longitudinally of the base plate238 and is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing. Atransverse shaft 240 is carried by bearings 242 and 244 located on theframe 232 and the shaft 240 has locking elements 246 and 248 fixedthereto, the locking elements 246 and 248 being identical to the lockingelements 200 and 212. The tongues 250 and 252 of the locking elements246 and 248 are adapted to be fitted in slots formed in conical seats atthe ends of a substantially cylindrical tool holding block 254 which isfitted on the shaft 240. The tool holding block is in two pieces, oneadapted to bear against one side surface of a saw blade 256 and theother adapted to bear against the opposite surface of the saw blade 256in order to hold it fixed for operation; the saw blade 256 constitutingthe cutter or cutter blade in this instance. It is to be noted that theblocks 210 and 254 may be splined on the shafts 194 and 240 respectivelyand the same holds true of the locking elements 200, 212, 246 and 248.

In the embodiment of Figure 9, the shaft 240 is provided with a spiralgear 260 which is enmeshed with a spiral gear 262, the latter beingfixed to the shaft 236 of the motor 234. Accordingly, upon operation ofthe motor 234, the shaft and hence the cutter holder is operated throughthe enmeshed gears 260 and 262 and their respective shafts.

Attention is now directed to Figures ll, 12 and 13 wherein there isdisclosed the present invention in modified form. In this embodiment,the casing or base 14a houses a supporting frame 40a carrying bearings71a and 72a in which the ends of a shaft 70a are rotatably mounted.

One end of the shaft 70a enters a casing 264 and is secured to a vanedimpeller 266 that is mounted for rotation in the casing 264. The casing264 is formed with upper and lower nipples 268 and 270 that form aninlet and an outlet, respectively, for the casing 264. The outlet 270 isattached to an outlet elbow 271 on the casing.

The handle 272 of the casing 14a is formed with an opening thatregisters with an opening in the rear wall of the casing 14a, and a tube274 is mounted in this opening. A nipple 276 rises from the tube 274 andcommunicates with nipple 268 through the medium of a hose 278 thatenters the casing 14a through an aperture in the rear wall of thecasing.

The rear end of the tube 274 is connected to an air compressor, notshown, by a flexible tubing 280 and the tube 274 slidably supportstherein, a valve member 282 having a conical end 284 that is urged intoa centrally apertured disk 286, fixed in tube 274, by a spring 288disposed in front of the valve member 282 and located in tube 274..

A trigger 290 is pivoted to the handle 272 and tcrminates in a yoke 292that is pivoted to member 282 and which is slidably received in a slotin tube 274. A spring 294 urges the lower end of the trigger 290forwardly so that as the lower end of the trigger is pulled rearwardly,the valve member will be moved to its open position, whereby air fromthe air compressor may enter nipple 268 to impart rotation to theimpeller 266 and the shaft 700.

The cutter holder 74a is mounted on the shaft 70a and supports blades76a. The cutter holder 74 and frame 40a are adjusted as a unit towardand away from the bottom wall of casing 14 in the manner previouslydescribed so that the blades 76a may be exposed from the opening in thebottom wall of the casing 14a.

Figure 14 illustrates a still further modified means for rotating thecutter holder 74b, in this embodiment, the frame 40b supports anelectric motor 300 within the casing 146 and the shaft 302 of motor 300carries a worm 304 that meshes with a gear 306 on one end of the cutterholder supporting shaft 70b.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a portable plane, a base plate, sides fastened to said base plate,and end panels fixed to said sides and said base plate, a handlefastened to one end panel, a tool holder, a support for the tool holderdisposed between said sides and above said base plate, said base platebeing provided with an opening in vertical alignment with the toolholder, arms fastened to said support and mounted for swinging movementon said sides, and means connected together and slidable and pivotal onsaid sides for raising and lowering one end of said support to therebyadjust the distance between said opening and said tool holder, a motorcarried by said support, means drivingly connecting said motor and saidtool holder, and a switch for said motor carried by said handle, saidsupport adjusting means including a screw adjacent each side, a pair ofslide blocks in which said screws are threaded, means fastening saidslide blocks to said support, means connected with said screws forrotating said screws as a unit, means connected with said screws forpreventing axial displacement of said screws, and means constitutingguideways for said slide blocks and carried by said sides.

2. A power plane comprising an elongated casing having a bottom Wall anda pair of spaced side walls, said bottom wall and said side walls eachhaving a forward end portion and a rear end portion, an opensubstantially rectangular frame member disposed within the casing andextending longitudinally of the casing, said frame member also having arear end portion and a forward end portion, a pair of arms fixed to therear end portion of said frame member and extending upwardly from theframe member, a trunnion fixed to and projecting laterally from eacharm, said trunnions being coaxial with each other and disposedtransversely of the frame member, antifriction bearings carried by therear end portions of said side walls receiving said trunnions therein,slides fixed to and extending upwardly from the forward end portion ofsaid frame member, each of said slides having an internally threadedbore in their upper ends, guide tracks pivotally attached to the forwardend portions of said side walls and slidably receiving said slides,bearing brackets fixed to the forward end portions of said side wallsabove the slides and guide tracks, rods journaled for rotation in saidbrackets and having lower threaded ends receivably engaged in saidbores, beveled gears fixed to the upper ends of said rods and restingupon said brackets, a transverse shaft journaled for rotation on saidside walls and disposed perpendicular to said rods, a pair of beveledgears fixed on said shaft meshing with the gears on said rods, a crankhandle attached to one end of, said shaft, said forward end portion ofsaid bottom wall having a transverse opening therein, a power drivensurface engaging member supported transversely of the frame at theforward end thereof in registry with the opening, and a motor supportedon the rear end of the frame within the casing and operatively connectedto the surface engaging member.

3. A wood working tool comprising a base which includes a base plateprovided with an opening, and sides connected to said base plate, asupport disposed between said sides, means pivotally connecting one endof said support to said sides, a cutter holder disposed at the oppositeend of said support, a pair of members slidably mounted on said sidesand connected to said support, a pair of vertical adjusting boltsrotatably supported on the sides and threadingly engaged with saidmembers, a horizontal operating shaft rotatably supported by the casingand operatively engaged with the bolts for rotating the same as a unitfor raising and lowering the latter end of said support, and a motorsecured to the pivoted end of said support and operatively connectedwith said cutter holder.

4. In a portable plane, a base plate, sides fastened to said base plate,and end panels fixed to said sides and said base plate, a handlefastened to one end panel, a tool holder, 21 support for the tool holderdisposed between said sides and above said base plate and carrying theholder at one of its ends, said base plate being provided with anopening in vertical alignment with the tool holder, arms fastened to andextending upwardly from said support and mounted for swinging movementon said sides, and means connected together and slidably and pivotallymounted on said sides for raising and lowering one end of said supportto thereby adjust the distance between said opening and said toolholder, said means including a pair of members fixed to the support,guides on the sides slidably receiving the members, a pair of verticallydisposed bolts rotatably supported on the sides and threadingly engagedwith the members, and an operating shaft operatively connected to bothbolts for rotating the same as a unit, a motor carried by said supportremote from the holder, means drivingly connecting said motor and saidtool holder, and a switch for said motor carried by said handle.

5. The combination of claim 4 and said tool holder including a shaftwith a tool holding block disposed thereon, and fastening elementsattached to said shaft and engaged with said block, said fasteningelements being adapted to impart rotation of said shaft to said block.

6. A power plane comprising an elongated casing having a bottom wall anda pair of spaced side walls, said bottom wall and said side walls eachhaving a forward end portion and a rear end portion, an opensubstantially rectangular frame member disposed within the casing andextending longitudinally of the casing, said frame member also having arear end portion and a forward end portion, a pair of arms fixed to therear end portion of said frame member and extending upwardly from theframe member, a trunnion fixed to and projecting laterally from eacharm, said trunnions being coaxial with each other and disposedtransversely of the frame member, antifriction bearings carried by therear end portions of said side walls receiving said trunnions therein,slides fixed to and extending upwardly from the forward end portion ofsaid frame member, each of said slides having an internally threadedbore in their upper ends, guide tracks pivotally attached to the forwardend portions of said side walls and slidably receiving said slides,bearing brackets fixed to the forward end portions of said side Wallsabove the slides and guide tracks, rods journaled for rotation in saidbrackets and having lower threaded ends receivably engaged in saidbores, beveled gears fixed to the upper ends of said rods and restingupon said brackets, a transverse shaft journaled for rotation on saidside walls and disposed perpendicular to said rods, a pair of beveledgears fixed on said shaft meshing with the gears on said rods, a crankhandle attached to one end of said shaft, said forward end portion ofsaid bottom wall having a transverse opening therein, and a power drivensurface engaging member supported on the forward end portion of saidframe member in registry with the opening.

Evans Apr. 28, 1891 Magerkurth Feb. 1, 1916 8 Broward Sept, 17,Bloodgood Mar. 11, Clarke Oct. 19, Clarke Feb. 21, Dernbach Mar 28,Wagner Dec. 5, Bloodgood June 5, Medholdt Apr. 26, Cole et a1 May 13,Egar Mar. 7, Kelton Sept. 21,

